Updates from the hills of Tuscany, a restored farmhouse in Chianti, midway between Florence and Siena. We write about local history and culture, life in Tuscany, the seasonal changes, pleasures of the garden and country kitchen, local stories and encounters with wildlife.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Wild herbs and weeds for lunch

Country lore and the table

The 4th Sunday of every month a small organic market is held at Greve in Chianti where almost all the produce is local. The market is called Il Pagliaio which literally means straw rick or stack.

Fresh bread and other baked goods, herbs and spices, preserves and jams, cheeses, wine and oil are all on sale. One or two stalls also sell their farm-grown vegetables. And one stall in particular, run by two soft-spoken farmers, husband and wife, specializes in fresh herbs and edible 'weeds' gathered in the countryside.

strigoli, clematis vitalba sprouts and wild asparagus

Last Sunday we acquired wild asparagus, a small-leafed salad vegetable called strigoli and vitalba which is actually wild clematis vitalba, in the form of its tender young sprouts.

vitalba lightly braised with some chopped leek in olive oil

The farmer explained how to prepare these items: the asparagus in risotto (the hard stems get boiled to make a good risotto broth, the tips are reserved for the final stages of the risotto); the strigoli (silene vulgaris) as a salad vegetable or also in risotto, lightly boiled; and the vitalba in an omelette.

add eggs, pepper and salt

It was both charming to eat something gathered in the wild and sobering to think that once people did this from necessity.

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Situated on a hillside, Le Ripe in Chianti has an orchard with heritage fruit trees, an organic vegetable garden, a row of 18 olives, wild figs, wild grapes, dozens of lavender bushes, a medieval hortus conclusus,a shrubbery, English roses and drifts of bulbs, all requiring labour and love but giving much pleasure in return.

The farm buildings, once home, stable, sty and byre, now renovated, host our friends and family. The cottage, a former barn, and two apartments in the main building, once stable and stall, are rented to guests who come by the week or longer. For more information on staying at Le Ripe, see our rental website.

Now out: Wide Awake

The diary of an Australian Milkmaid, 1882-1889

Em Munro writes her diary in late 19th century colonial Australia, a time and place rife with contradictions. Ordinary settlers struggle to make ends meet in a tough environment where the squatter class has claimed the best land. And the Indigenous Australians who thrived for tens of thousands of years on that land are dispossessed and crushed. Woman’s place is in the home but women’s suffrage is in the air; dreams of independence vie with romantic fantasies; new loyalties compete with old: life choices need to be made.Em is passionate but trapped in a provincial world with little stimulus and less scope for advancement. Her diary recounts her family’s story, her daily life but also her dilemmas and dreams and eventually her ‘getting of wisdom’.

Lily of Lonestorm

Threepenny Tales 2

Lily of Lonestorm is another whimsical Tall Tale for readers from age six. Lily's courageous search for her parents unfolds on her island in the Windy Western Ocean and on board the miraculous Seraphina, a ship with Special Potentiality. In the company of a most unusual band of pirates, a surly goat, some bad-tempered fowl and her best friend, rascally Rags, Lily braves Adventures on the high seas and explores uncharted territories, never losing Hope, Wonder and her love of Home.

FOR STORY LOVERS FROM AGE 6

The Adventures of Barnaby Twickins

Threepenny Tales 1

The Adventures of Barnaby Twickins is a whimsical Tall Tale for all readers from age six up. Barnaby's jaunty, often tongue-in-cheek story takes place in a 17th or maybe 18th century fantasy world of lace and cauliflowers, clogs and fripperies. Our Hero is a merry, plucky Boy who dreams of becoming a Clown and entertaining the World. Readers will enjoy meeting Barnaby's assorted surprising Companions, as well as sharing his Adventures with their dash of Romance and twist of Absurdity.

FOR STORY LOVERS FROM AGE 6

The Dove of Montségur

Medieval mysteries

Based on an historical episode, The Dove of Montségur evokes life in a singular medieval community, the tragic price paid for challenging the established order, and the possibility of redemption thanks to one girl's courage.

Dante's Gift

sequel to The Dove of Montségur

Medieval conspiracies

In humble celebration of the 750th anniversary of Dante's birth:If you are curious about the possible links between Dante Alighieri, medieval Florence, the Cathars and the Templars, have a look at this novel. Click on the image for the Kindle version.

Will's Way

a story of Shakespeare's childhood and youth

Shakespeare's Childhood Story

Little is known of Shakespeare's childhood and youth. Will's Way imagines how young William's family, his childhood experiences in Warwickshire in the 1570s and his particular moment in history may have inspired and motivated the man and writer he became. In addition, the novel contains a literary treasure hunt: over 160 quotations from Shakespeare's works have been put in the mouths of its characters. The reader is invited to spot the quotations and identify their sources which are to be found at the end of the book.

Evin of the Trees

Bronze Age imaginings

If the idea of a matriarchal society in bronze age Britain intrigues you, click on the image below for the Kindle version of this novel.

Leitha's Story Blog

For extra news, images and info on the books above, plus ideas on writing, see Leitha Martin's Story Blog

the heart of winter

twisted hazel

the heart of winter

stone trough and ice

the heart of winter

fig

the heart of winter

teucrium

the heart of winter

frozen grass

the heart of winter

a brave pansy

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Artemis

Goddess of the hunt, of wild animals, of the wilderness; the deer and the cypress were sacred to her. When I was a child and in love with ancient Greek mythology, after Athena, Artemis was my favourite goddess. If we dabbled in such things, she would be the patron of Le Ripe.

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TuscanArtGirl

a new website for readers from Holland, just launched by a friend: have a look at the original Tuscan works of art and craft

Table Affairs

a friend's website of delightful items for the table and home which I would like to share with readers; click on the image to see her site

Be a contributor

If you have a Google account you are free to make comments on this blog (see Comments link after each post). If you do not have a Google account, please write to Le Ripe, letting us know who you are and why you would like to participate. You will need an alias (preferably in Latin). We will then send you a request to join as an official contributor and ecco: you're in!Upupa Epops